If my memory is correct, you have been trying to get on NAFPS for some time but there have been technical problems keeping you. I offered a number of times to post a statement from you, unedited. In any case, it's always best if we hear from all sides to try and get at the truth of the matter.
I should point out, as I have before, that the only thing I could find online were some statements of personal opinion about you on the Indianz forum, not always reliable to put it mildly. So far the worse things to be found online have come from pdawg, who posted a single post and has never returned. The accusations mostly center around the issue of if it is proper to record the songs you did.
That is, until this account below. Trisha Jacobs' old website had an account about Steve Gullet AKA Yellowhand from Marshfield MO. if this is not you, we need to make that very clear so there is no confusion. But if this is you, I hope you will answer and give your side about this account.
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http://web.archive.org/web/20050323195454/http://users.pandora.be/gohiyuhi/frauds/frd0044.htmYellowhand, Steven
Date added to index: 20-5-2003
Real Name: Steve Gullet
Claimed Tribal Affiliation: first claimed Blackfoot, then adopted Lakota, now claims Lakota blood
Current Website:www.members.tripod.com/yellowhand
Also seen hanging around AmericanIndianMovementAmongFriends@groups.msn.com
Location:Marshfield, MO
Claims: This guy actually had the audacity to put out his own statement after Arvol Looking Horse's. In that statement he continually reafirms his own (non-existent) connection to Lakota people, and tells non-ndns to basicly ignore what Arvol said.
....In 1996 I met a guy while going to college courses. I will not say his actual name, but he likes to call himself (as of around 2000) "Yellow-hand". Though at the time the name didn't exist. He was a graphics student like myself. In talking to this guy he learned of my Cherokee heritage and my experiences with a few good Lakota people. He showed an interest.
The next semester he was hanging around with the "rainbow people" frolicking and whatnot. I made a statement of how the term "rainbow tribe" was coined from the book "Black Elk speaks". He argued against this. Days later he returned with four books on Black Elk, and apologized for arguing and stated that I was right the whole time.
Semester three... He was wearing this big honkin necklace with chunks of rock and fake claws on it (and a bead supposedly worn by Crazy horse when he died). He stated at that time he was a "Native American story teller" and was half Blackfoot.
Two semesters later... He stated he was a "registered pipe carrier" for the Lakota, and a "registered medicine man" for the Blackfoot. At this time he also said he was a descendant of Black Elk's family, and was adopted by Crazy horses family. I never bothered to tell him the two were related and therfore the same family. lol
One semester later he was a Sweat practitioner and minister of the Native American Church (and possibly a peyote roadman). At this time he was also trying to get the city of Springfield Missouri to let him build "Black Elk Park" on an unwanted, unusable corner of city property. Never happened of course.
Half a semester later, he shared a "vision" with me.
He said, "I was pouring the water for my people in my sweat lodge and I was given a vision. I went out of the lodge and went to the fire. I looked up and said, Wakan Tanka, Im counting on you. I then walked across the fire, turned around and walked back, went back into the lodge and told my people of this. I just wanted to share that with you Brother". I said, Wow! I have had the same vision! Except It was on an episode of Walker Texas Ranger! lol
Semesters were finally over and I lost track of Mr Yellow-hand.
He resurfaced trying to sell badly made flutes as ones of traditional making and claimed also to be a Sun dancer.
In speaking with people a few years later I heard stories of how he was going around showing off his Pipe to people. I also learned that he gathered quite a group of "followers". A woman who met me at a friends home told me how she had been part of his "sweat family" and went to his "ceremonies". She then told me how Mr Yellow-hand took a "flesh offering" from A DECEASED CHILD!!!!!! I was so disgusted I wanted to puke and/or beat him into a wet gurgling pile.
Then in 2002, this Mr yellow-hand was wandering around the Powwow that I chair in Marshfield Missouri. He was purchasing sage sticks and then giving them to people saying that he gathered them on "the Rosebud rez" were he goes to do ceremonies for "the people". Some people at the Powwow who have had dealings with Mr Yellow-hand were getting hostile with him. I went, in my official capacity, to check it out. In catching up to him, he said "hi Steve" to me and I responded likewise. I expressed my concerns over his recent activities and recent history. He denied all allegations of course. He proceeded to unbutton his shirt and show me these little slit-scars on his chest. He said "when people see these scars my word is never questioned. I laughed out loud because I know many actual Sun dancers and what Sun dance Piercing scars look like. THIS SICK LITTLE MAN CUT HIMSELF WITH A RAZOR TO TRY AND SIMULATE SUN DANCE SCARS. . He then told me that when I knew him a few years ago, he was very "sick" and "lost". But when the Lakota people found him out in the woods they healed him and put him on the right road with the Chanunpa (Lakota sacred pipe). He then asked me if I thought he would be safe staying at the Powwow.
I gave him some words of wisdom ( I said, I can't be all places at the same time). At that point and he heeded my words, by leaving immediately. He did of course call the police and send them to the Powwow with a story of how he was assaulted. This notion was dispensed with quickly. The police said, "yea we figured it was bogus. We've had dealings with him before. That guy is a real piece of work."
He's still out there, though Ive heard he's been chased off many places. Hes always trying to get in on cheap free housing construction like bail or cobb houses. He wants to be another Arvol Looking horse.
So, lets look at the score card...
YELLOW-HAND:
Native American story teller,
Blood relative to Black Elk,
Adopted member of Crazy horse's family,
"Registered" pipe carrier to the Lakota people,
"Registered" medicine man to the Blackfoot people,
Trained Inipi man (sweat practitioner),
Fire walker,
Priest of the Native American Church (peyote roadman),
Flute maker,
Sundancer,
Builder of parks,
And the bringer of low cost housing to the Lakota people.
Wow and all this accomplished within three years.
I keep thinking I missed something. lol
The bottom line is, Mr Yellow-hand is still at large, and HE IS VERY DANGEROUS because people want to believe and because he is a real predator. Authorities both law enforcement and tribal (the ones he claims to represent) are aware of him and would like to catch up to him. If I can make that happen, I will.
There are people like this "Mr Yellow-hand" all over. Playing games with people and abusing them. People are sometimes so desperate to find their spiritual life that they will believe virtually anything. These charlatans are watching like vultures waiting to pick the bones of roadkill.
THEY NEED TO BE STOPPED!
Last known to live in Marshfield Missouri, Mr Yellow-hand is still doing sweatlodges and such. And he does travel to events so he may come to your town. Scary eh?
Steve StoneBear
